Key case



Patented Aug. 31, 1926.

PATENT "QFFICE.

CHARLES' LORBER, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

KEY

Application filed December The main object of this invention is to provide a key case serving as a container for keys and having for one of its novel features 'a construction which permits the rotation of the key rings in the 4case when they are suspended Aand vprevents rotation of the key rings when the flatter vhave been projected outside of the case.

Another object Vis to provide a novel type of key ring which is self-closing and perr-iits t-he ready securement of a key upon the ring in such position that it cannot readily be inadvertently.removed from the same.

The above and other objects will ybecome apparent in the description below, in which characters `of reference refer to like-named parts in the drawing.

Referring fbriefiy to the drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the key case, showing the series of hooks in suspended position and lone of said hooks in rotated position to aipoint exterior Vof the key case.

Figure 2 is a front elevational View of the y key hook mounting sleeve, showing the formation Vof the :hook slots therein.

Figure 3 is an enlarged plan view of the mounting sleeve used with said key case, show-ing the various positions of the hooks in the slot to illustrate the method of 4rotat-`V ing the hooks and locking the same at different positions in the slots. i

Figure 4t is an enlarged front elevational view of the 1preferred type Aof hook.

Figure `5 is a front elevational View of the modified type of hook.

Referring `in detail to the drawing, the numeral 10 indicates the back of the key case which is formed of leather or some other suitable material. The sides of the back have flaps 11 and 12 extending therefrom which are adapted to fold over the surface of the back and cover the keys suspended from rings which will be .more fully described hereafter. Near the upper end of the back 10, a plate 13 is secured. This plate consists of a rigid piece of metal. The upper edge of this rigid plate is rolled into a cylindrical sleeve 14C and is mounted at the upper end of member 10 forming the suspension means for the keys. The cylindrical sleeve is first formed as part of a fiat plate in which a plurality of longitudinal slots are formed. Said slots extend across the width of the plate 13 when it is in the flat stage where the sleeve is finally formed spnthat said slots will be situated on the CASE.

12, 1925. Serial No. 74,945.

sleeve 14. The slots are identical `to cach other being mutually spaced apart and 'have small longitudinal channels 15 havin-g Isemicircular closed ends yand intercommunicating` relatively larger channels 16 which are square at their ends. When the cylindrical sleeve 14 has been formed on Vthe plate 13, the larger' channels 16 are positioned below the smaller channels 15 as illustrated in F igure 1.

Rings `are mounted in each of these slots and are yused for lthe purpose of attaching keys such as 17a thereto.V Said rings rare formed of a unitary'length of wire having a downwardly extending stem 17 which is surmounted by a flat head 18. The lower end of the stem conti-nues as a semi-circular loop 19 and then projects angularly upward toward the stein as an extension 20 terminating at its end in a hanging catch hook 21. This construction `forms an elongated tapering loop 22 into which one end .of the keys is slipped. The foregoing relates to the preferred type of hook. In the modified type, the saine construction with regard to the head stem, lower loop, and extension, is adhered to Vand the .same `numerals which `are common to the preferred type will apply. The upper terminating end of the modified type of ring is curved at 23 toward the stem 17 and this curved portion. rests within a Vsimilarly curved recess 24 formed in theV as to completely close the side of the stem so loop 22. f

Directly beneath thev heads 18 of both types of ring used with the key case, vthe stems are provided with parallel flat surfaces 25. The dimension between the flat surfaces are substantially identical with the width of the small channels 15. The stems directly beneath the head are originally formed of material circular in cross section Whose diametral dimension is equal to the width of the large channel 16 so that when the stem finds itself in the large channel, said stem is freely rotatable therein.

',l`he novel characteristics of the type of key case illustrated herewith is that the stems of the key suspension rings cannot be rotated unless the entire key case is rotated when said stems are in a protruding position such as indicated by one of the stems in Figure 1. When the key rings hang suspended from their stems 17, as shown by five of these elements in Figure 1, the key lrings may be freely rotated as the large channels slots in said sleeve receiving y and entire `that they can be conveniently carried and when any one of these stems are swung upwardly 180 degrees, so that the longated loops prot-rude from the key case, the stem key case rotates as a single unit. I claim:-

1. In a key case, Va back, flaps integral with said back and adapted to cover the latter,v a rigid plate mounted on said back, rings suspended from said plate member, and means in said plate permitting rotation of the rings when suspended when the key case stands upright and locking said rings in position when swung upwardly 180 derees. Y g 2. In'akey case, a back, flaps integral with said back and adapted to cover the latter, a; rigid plate mounted on said back, rings suspended from said plate member, a cylindrical sleeve integral with said plate, said rings, said slots permitting rotation of the rings when suspended and locking said rings against rotation when lifted to protruding position fromV the key case.

3. In a key case, a back, flaps integral with said back and adapted to cover the latter, a rigid plate mounted on said back, rings suspended from said plate member, a

slots on said sleeve receiving said rings, said slots comprising a smaller channel and an interoommunicating larger channel, said kcylindrical sleeve integral with said plate,

slots on said sleeve receiving said rings, said slots comprising a smaller channel and an intercoinmunicating larger channel, having stems adapted to rotate iii the larger chanynel and be locked against rotation in the smaller channel, said stems being circularv in cross section and adapted to Yrotate in the larger channel, and means in said stems for permitting the .latter to enter into the smaller channels and be locked'against rotation.

5. In a key case, a back, flaps integral with said back and latter, a rigid plate mounted on said back7 rings suspended from said plate member, a cylindrical sleeve integral with said plate, slots on said sleeve receiving said rings, said slots comprising a smaller channel and an intercommunicating larger channel, said rings having stems adapted to rotate in the larger channel and be locked against rota tion in the smaller channel, said stems being circular inveross section and adapted to rotate kin the larger channel, and means in said stems for permitting the latter to enter into the smaller channels and be locked against rotation comprising fiat surfaces formed on said stems, the dimension between said lflat surfaces being equivalent to the width of the smaller channels, surfaces when entering the smaller channels being adapted to lock the rings against roytation. cylindrical sleeve integral with said plate,

In testimony whereof ture.

CHARLES Loenen;

adapted to cover the saidy flat I aiiiX lmy signa- 

